What is a Statement of Special Educational Needs?

A Statement is a legal document that sets out your child's special educational needs. It states the type of special help and support that your child will need in an educational setting and is written using the advice gathered during the statutory assessment of your child.

A Statement has six parts.

• Part 1 - gives basic details such as your child's name and address. It also lists those who have provided advice during the statutory assessment.
• Part 2 - gives a detailed summary of your child's needs using the advice gathered through the statutory assessment.
• Part 3 - gives details on how your child's needs will be met. It provides objectives and the provision that will enable the objectives to be met. Part 3 also includes the way in which your child's progress will be monitored.
• Part 4 - states the school that your child will attend to receive the support stated in Part 3.
• Part 5 - describes any non-educational needs your child may have such as health needs.
• Part 6 - describes any non-educational support provided to meet the needs described in Part 5.

Proposed Statement

If, following a statutory assessment, it is decided that a Statement should be issued, you will be sent a Proposed Statement - that is, a draft of the Statement - within two weeks of the completion of the ten week statutory assessment process. You will also receive a copy of the advice that was gathered during the statutory assessment.

When you receive the Proposed Statement you should read it through very carefully. If there is anything you do not understand please contact the person named in the letter sent with the Proposed Statement. 

You will see that Part 4 of the Proposed Statement does not name a school. This is because the Local Authority will want to know your views before deciding this.

You have 15 days from when you receive the Proposed Statement to provide your comments and state which school you would like your child to attend. 

If you do not agree with any part of the Proposed Statement you can ask the Local Authority to amend it. Your concerns need to be put in writing or you can ask for a meeting to discuss your concerns. Remember, you will need to make your submission within 15 working days. 

If a meeting is held, you are entitled to another 15 working days to make further representations or request a further meeting. If there is still disagreement after this meeting then you have a final 15 working days to make further comment.

Final Statement

The Final Statement will normally be issued within eight weeks of the Proposed Statement being issued. The Final Statement may be the same as the Proposed Statement or it may have changed as a result of discussions between you and the Local Authority. Part 4 will be completed naming the school that your child will attend.

Your child's school and those involved in providing evidence for the statutory assessment will also receive a copy of the Final Statement as well as a copy of all the evidence.

From the date of the Final Statement the Local Authority must provide your child's school with any extra resources specified in the Statement.

If you have not been able to agree on the content of the Final Statement, you have the right to use disagreement resolution and appeal to the SEN Tribunal of Wales. Details of how to appeal are sent with the Final Statement.

Further information is available from the school SENCo or from SNAP Cymru which provides independent parental support and can be contacted on 01633 246897.